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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2476, 24 May 1888, Page 2

Tiie Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Bill introduced by the Premier is an outcome of the sudden scare which has agitated the colonies. It is, however, free of that spirit of gasconade and illiberality which has distinguished the hasty action of New South Wales. A great deal of light has been thrown oti this question by the Rev. Mr Hargreavts in addresses on the subject which he has bten delivering in Auckland. He shows that the colonies have been lashing themselves into needless alarm of a Chinese invasion, and that by calm concerted action with tho Imperial Government there will be no difficulty iu arriving at satisfactory arrangements with the Government of China, a power whoso friendship is as valuable to the colonies as to the British Government. The Chinese Government are adverse to the emigration of their people and there arc vast tracts of unoccupied territories in the Celestial Empire which they wish to see colonised. Mr Hargreaves, who has resided a number of years iu China and is of course an authority, asserts that the people are no more immoral in their social life than our own classes The Bill before the House displays no fear of New Zealand being over-run with Mongolians, hut it places restrictions on them that will keep them from arriving iu numbers that would disturb the competitive industries of our own people. A limitation is made iu the number of Chinese conveyed to tho colonies by any vessel, and iuoreases the penalty of infraction from twenty pounds to fifty pounds. Naturalised British subjects, accredited Chinese officials, and Chinese sailors who do not land in the colony, are exempted from the operations of the Act.